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Man goes on trial accused of harassing garda sergeant
Summary
Sean Carraher, 55, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, Dublin, is on trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin. Carraher is accused of repeatedly calling the sergeant between March 2009 and May 2011 and posting online messages that called him "lying" and "corrupt" over nearly two years. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by barrister James Dwyer, presented evidence that Carraher admitted to posting the messages and claimed he was exposing what he believed to be Garda corruption. Dwyer argued that while free expression allows opinions, the content and intent of Carraher's posts crossed into harassment, requiring proof of intent or reckless conduct to cause alarm or distress. Sergeant Gilmartin testified that he first encountered Carraher in 2007, that Carraher had made a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, and that he received harassing calls and defamatory posts from Carraher.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man goes on trial accused of harassing garda sergeant. Charges or matters: harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-07-06 Publication
Why: " The jury of seven men and five women was told that in order to prove a case of harassment, they would have to find there was "an intent or a reckless act on the part of Sean Carraher to cause alarm, distress or harm". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin
- and taken to Shankill garda station
Topics
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